Flashlight device



March 17, 1936. A. FROEHLICH FLASHLIGHT DEVICE 'Filed March 24, 1935 2 Shegts-Sheet 1 Inventor:

March 17, 1936. A. FROEHLICH 2,034,029

FLASHLIGHT DEVI CE Filed March 24, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.5 Fig.6

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Patented Mar. 17, 1936 UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE msmmn'r nnvrcn Alfred Friihlich, Dessau in Anhalt, ('iermany,

assignor to Agfa Ansco Corporation, Binghamton, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 24, 1933, Serial No. 662,591 In Germany April 2, 1932 7 Claims.- (01. 67-30) the atmosphere and in which the vessel which contains the flash-light material can be easily exchanged though the vessel is hermetically closed. Further objects will be seen from the detailed specification following hereafter; Reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 represents avertical section through a device according to this invention, the combustion vessel being only partly shown in section,

Fig. 2 shows the exchangeable vessel, partly in section, a

Fig. 3 is atop view of the exchangeable vessel, partly in section,

Fig. 4 shows a section of the device shown in Fig. 1 along the line 4-4,

Fig. 5 is a vertical section through another device according to this invention, the combustion vessel being shown only partly in section,

Fig. 6 shows the means for fixing the piercing pin used in the device shown in Fig. 4. and Fig. 7 shows a section of the device shown in Fig. 5 along the line 1-1.

' -tains a flash-light mixture to be ignited by an In one form of a flash-light device the combustion is efiected in an exchangeable vessel permeable to light and provided with smoke filters. -In another form a closed bulb-shaped vessel conelectric current. This latter tively costly and requires However, it has the advantage that it encloses hermetically the flash-light mixture in contact with a flash-light powder so that the smoke can not escape.

The present invention relates to a'flash-light form is comparadevice-which unites the advantages of both forms above referred to. This is realizedby confining the material which on ignition produces the photographically active light, in an exchangeable.

vessel permeable to light and having an opening closed hermetically by a material, for instance, in the form of a foil which burns easfly and quickly or can be easily destroyed in another suitable manner.

If the foil used for closing the vessel is easily combustible it may be arranged in such a manner that its combustion causes the ignition of the flash-light material. As the exchangeable vessel in which the combustion takes place is closed according to this invention, the advantage is obtained that the vessel though exchangeable an electric current.

may be filled with a gas assisting the combustion, for instance, with oxygen.

Instead of a combustible-foil for closing the ,vessel, there may be used any foil capable of being otherwise easily destroyed, in this case, how- (5 ever, means must be provided for igniting the fiash-light-material and for rupturing the foil in order to afiord a communication between the interior of the bulb and the outside atmosphere. As a material for the exchangeable vessel contain- 10 ing the flash-light mixture there may be used cellulose hydrate, a cellulose derivative that burns with dimculty, mica, glass or similar materials.

For closing this vessel there may be used a thin and easily destructible layer of any material, such 15 as paper, regenerated cellulose, a cellulose derivative, or a colloid layer such as gelatin, or an artiflcial resin ora layerof glass or mica. The device for piercing or otherwise destroying the closure is preferably connected with the igni- 20 tion device so that both devices are operated simultaneously.

The flash-light mixture in the vessel may consist, for instance, of an easily combustible metal foil, such as aluminium or magnesium foil, and 25 acharge of oxygen at'atmospheric pressure.

I The invention will now be described with reference tothe accompanying drawings.

The flash-light device consists of a stand I carrying a plate 2. The plate 2 is embraced by a 30 cylindrical jacket 4 which extends downwards and holds smoke filters arranged in known manner. At 6 the plate 2 is provided with an opening. To the edge 3 of the plate 2 there is attached the bent metal piece I which at its upper end bears 35 a spring-urged pressure .device 8 which presses the combustion vessel 9 against the plate 2 but allows its removal when it is to be exchanged for another vessel. The -bell-shaped combustion vessel 9, made of. glass, non-combustible cellulose 40 derivative, mica or similar material has its circular base plate to in contact with the plate 2.

In this base plate is an opening II which can be brought into register with opening 6 in plate 2;

In order to ensure a perfect register of the open- 45 ings 6 with the opening it when the combustion vessel is placed on the stand, the edge 3 and the said vessel may be given a suitable shape or they may be provided with projections. The opening II in the bottom of vessel 9 is hermetically 0' parts mospheric pressure. In a recess oi! plate 2 under the opening ll there are located the contacts 20 connected by an incandescent filament 2|. Of the contacts 20 one is connected through the stand I with one pole of a source of electric energy, while the other is connected with the metal of the device and these are connected with theother pole of the source of electric energy. The filters 5 may be fixed with screws to insertions 22 connected with jacket 4 and stand I. Preferably the filters are mounted in such a manner that they can easily be exchanged or cleaned.

Another form of a. device according to this invention is illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5.

This device, too, comprises a stand I having a tubular stem l3 carrying a plate 2. The plate 2 is embraced by a cylindrical jacket 4 which extends downwardly. The circular bottom ll of the bell-shaped combustion vessel 9 is in contact with plate 2. Vessel 9 is secured on plate 2 by means of a bent metal piece I fixed at one end-to the edge 3 of plate 2, and carrying at its upper end an abutment for the spring-urged pressure device 8 pressing the vessel 9 against the plate 2. Within the cylinder 4 there are arranged wire nets 5 serving as smoke filters. These smoke filters may be fixed with screws to insertions 22 connected with jacket 4 and stem l3. The interior of the cylinder 4- communicates with the interior of tube l3 which contains the piercing pin l4 bearing on one of its longitudinal sides a friction surface l 5. Pin l4 has lateral pins terminating in knobs l6 and extending through opposite slots I! provided in the tube l3 (see Fig.6); these slots end in notches 18. The lower portion of tube l3 contains a spring I9 which is compressed (when cocking the pin l4 by engaging its lateral pins in notches 18).

For producing an ignition the said lateral pins are released from the notch l8 whereupon the spring l9 drives 'the pin l4 upwards into the position shown so that it tears the sealing toil I2 which previously covered opening 6 of the plate. At the same time the friction surface l5 scrapes the flint 20.- The sparks produced are the flash-light material. The fil rs 5 are fixed to the cylinder '4 preferably by means of screws so that they can be easily exchanged. The vessel' 9 can be removed similarly to that shown in Fig. 1 alter the pin I4 has been recocked.

What I claim is: 1. A flash-light device which comprises an exchangeable, light permeable vessel, an opening in said vessel and a toll oi! an easily destructible .material covering said opening, thus effecting a hermetic closure of said vessel, said vessel containing the material for producing the photographically .active light.

2. A flash-light device which comprises an exchangeable, light permeable vessel, an opening in said vessel and a foil 0! an easily burning material covering said opening, thus effecting 9. hermetic. closure of said vessel, said vessel containing the material for producing the photographically active light. a

el 9 and ignite rial covering said opening, thus efiecting a hermetic closure of said vessel, said vessel containing a foil of an easily combustible metal for producing the photographically active light and a gas which promotes combustion of said metal foil.

5. A flash-light device which comprises a stand, a plate fixed to said stand having an upwards bent border, a cylindrical jacket fixed to and embracing said border of. said plate, wire nets fixed to said jacket and extending parallel to said plate to form smoke filters, an exchangeable vessel containing the flash-light material with its bottom having an opening covered with an easily destructible foil in contact with said plate, means for pressing said vessel against said plate, means for piercing said foil, and means for igniting said fiash light material.

6. A flash-light device which comprises a stand, a plate fixed to' said stand having an upwards bent border, a cylindrical jacket fixed to and embracing said border of said plate, wire nets fixed to said jacket and extending parallel to said plate to form smoke filters, an exchangeable vessel containing the flash-light material with its bottom having an opening covered with an easily destructible foil in contact with said plate, a piece of bent metal with one end fixed to said upwards bent border, a pin fixed to its" other end and a spring drawn over said pin, said spring pressing saidvessel against said plate, means for piercing said foil, and means for igniting said flash-light material. g l

'7. A flash-light devicewhich comprises a stand comprising a was and a tube fixed thereto, a plate fixed to said tube having an upwards bent border, a cylindrical jacket fixed to and embracing said border of said plate, wire nets fixed to said jacket and extending, parallel to said plateto form smoke filters, an exchangeable vessel containing the flash-light material with its bottom having an opening covered with an easily destructible foil in contact with said plate, a piece of bent metal with one end fixed to said upwards bent borde a pin fixed to its other end and a spring drawn over said pin, said spring pressing said'vessel against said plate, a spring mounted- ALFRED Fabmcn. 

